Ocean Era, Inc. – Velella Epsilon Aquatic Animal Production Facility National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit

On June 8, 2022, the EPA made a final decision to issue a NPDES permit to Ocean Era, Inc. for a marine aquaculture facility in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The below documents support the issuance of the NPDES permit and are a part of the administrative record.

• Issuance Letter – Ocean Era, Inc. – Velella Epsilon (FL0A00001) (pdf) (146.79 KB)
  Issuance Letter for Ocean Era permit following remand
• NPDES Permit for Ocean Era, Inc. – Velella Epsilon (FL0A00001) (pdf) (509.97 KB)
  Final NPDES permit for Ocean Era following remand
• Fact Sheet – Ocean Era, Inc. – Velella Epsilon (FL0A00001) (pdf) (299.47 KB)
  Final Fact Sheet for Ocean Era Permit
• Appeal Procedures (pdf) (187.97 KB)
  Appeal procedures for Ocean Era permit following remand
• Clarification on Remand (pdf) (246.48 KB, June 8, 2022)
• Ocean Era, Inc. – Velella Epsilon Environmental Assessment (EA) including Essential Fish Habitat Assessment, Baseline Environmental Survey, and Ocean Discharge Criteria Evaluation (pdf) (28.53 MB)
  Ocean Era - Final Environmental Assessment
• Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) – Ocean Era, Inc. – Velella Epsilon (pdf) (122.25 KB)
  NEPA finding of no significant impact for Ocean Era NPDES permit
• Biological Evaluation – Ocean Era, Inc. – Velella Epsilon (pdf) (1.87 MB)
  Final Biological Evaluation
• Essential Fish Habitat Assessment (pdf) (945.19 KB)
• Ocean Discharge Criteria Evaluation (pdf) (2.89 MB)
• Response to Comments – Ocean Era, Inc. – Velella Epsilon (pdf) (795.7 KB)
  Final Ocean Era - Response to Comments
• Application Form 1, Form 2B, and Supplemental Information (pdf) (10.63 MB)
  Application Form 1, Form 2B, and Supplemental Data